Christian Advance Helps And Prayers
Book of the Month
Windows of the Soul
Ken Gire
God is speaking to us all the time. Ken Gire reminds us to listen. As we walk through the day we can hear God in the everyday moments of our lives.
Advance In The Word
CONTEXT AND CORRELATION
There is a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a young boy in Mark chapter nine. Commentaries and different Bible versions leave you in the dark as to whether the boy was actually dead or not. Here is a biblically supported reason for believing the boy seems to have died. I will use contextual support for this interpretation.
· The story of the transfiguration precedes our story. Peter, James and John see a glorified, resurrected Jesus that shone like the sun. Thus, messaging that Jesus will die and rise glorified. This follows 8:31. Jesus clearly states He will die and rise again. Our story (9:14-32) could be told to give the reader support to the newly introduced idea Jesus will rise from the dead.
· Again, Chapter 9:9-10 speaks of the Son of Man rising from the dead.
· The words in our story point to the boy actually being dead.
o The boy became like a corpse. 9:26
o The boy was believed to be dead. 9:26
o Jesus took him by the hand and “raised him”. 9:27
· The story of Jesus walking through Galilee teaching His disciples about His trial, death and resurrection (9:31) follow our story of the young boy. Here He clearly proclaims He will die and rise again.
Mark chapters 1-8 tell the reader who Jesus is. Chapters 9-16 tell the reader what Jesus came to do. Dying and rising from the dead is what Jesus came to do. Furthermore, because Mark wants the reader to make the switch from who He is to what He came to do, He pivots to a heavy theme of dying and rising repeated in 8:31 and 9:9-10 (leading into our story); and 9:31; 10:34 after our story. Our story is found among this grouping.
Up to chapter 8, Jesus has not spoken of His resurrection from the dead. But when He does speak of it, He does so in a matter-of-fact way leaving no gray area. I say this having contextual support for this interpretation. Do you have contextual support for why you believe what you believe?
But not so fast! Do you have correlation? Correlation is seeing your passage in light of the other similar passages found in other books. Do they say the boy died? Do they say Jesus brought him back to life?
Actually, no. Matthew 17:14-23; Luke 9:37-45; do not even hint at the idea that Jesus raised the child from the dead. Matthew says, “the boy was cured at once.” Luke says Jesus, “healed the boy and gave him back to his father.” That being said, we should take Mark’s words, “the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead’” (Mark 9:26) as being exactly what the author meant.
Context is extremely important. I cannot emphasize enough how you should always look at passages in light of context. Nevertheless, also entertain correlation. What do the other authors have to say about the same event? Do other books or other authors of Scripture support your stance? Do you have correlation support for why you believe what you believe?
Advance In Biblical Discipleship
HOLINESS AND HUMILITY
A. W. Tozer speaking on Christian leadership rightly states, "Triumphs are not won by men in easy chairs. Success is costly." When we hear these words we usually think of our time or our money. But I want you to consider, when making disciples, it could cost you your pride. What? Yes, your pride. One of the key signs of holiness of heart and life is humility. Humility is Christlike. It is the life we are called to. It is doing God's will, not our will.
Peter commands his readers to "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility" (see 1Peter 5:5-7) Put it on. It is something to pursue. It is a choice. It is a decision. It is an attitude of the heart. Serve others. It may mean giving of your time to others. It may mean giving money. But mostly, it means obeying God, being a servant leader and considering all your disciples as better than yourself. Live out humility before your disciples. Teach them what it looks like. Yes, it is going to be costly, but victory always is.
DISCIPLESHIP ENHANCES FELLOWSHIP
What about real Christian fellowship? How is it enhanced through discipleship? Life Groups can be centered around hearing, reading or studying the Bible. It can be challenging and enlightening. Yet, for a growing number, this still leaves you dry, longing for something more and still in a position of hearers rather than doers.
We become better informed but not really transformed. What is needed? What if we start with a question, “What if your discipleship focused on what kind of friends you want to be?” Do you want to be a faithful group of people who hold each other accountable for their daily walk with God? Do you want to be a cohort of Jesus followers who help each other discern God's presence? Do you want to follow God's lead in your lives? Do you want to be a collective of Great Commissioners living on mission with God in the flow of everyday life? If those folks come together in real Christian fellowship, on a regular basis, it will be anything but dry.
Having walked with God all week, you assemble having experienced Scripture's truth, with stories to tell and praises to give. Has your Life Group thought about what kind of friends you want to be: everyone doing their own thing or everyone on mission with God? It makes a difference if you long for real Christian fellowship.
Christian Advance Prayer
Quote of Menno Simons - read and pray.
For true evangelical faith is of such a nature that it cannot lie dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love; it dies unto flesh and blood; destroys all forbidden lusts and desires; cordially seeks, serves and fears God; clothes the naked; feeds the hungry; consoles the afflicted; shelters the miserable; aids and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those that injure it; prays for those that persecute it; teaches, admonishes and reproves with the Word of the Lord; seeks that which is lost; binds up that which is wounded; heals that which is diseased and saves that which is sound. The persecution, suffering and anxiety which befalls it for the sake of the truth of the Lord, is to it a glorious joy and consolation.
Christian Advance Prayer
Samuel Logan Brengle
Keep me, O Lord, from waxing mentally and spiritually dull and stupid. Help me to keep the physical, mental and spiritual fibre of the athlete, of the man who denies himself daily and takes up his cross and follows Thee. Give me good success in my work, but hide pride from me. Save me from the complacency that so frequently accompanies success and prosperity. Save me from the spirit of sloth, of self-indulgence, as physical infirmities and decay creep upon me.
Christian Advance Prayer
Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Christian Advance Prayer
A Prayer For Holiness of Heart
Dear heavenly Father, You are a Holy God and I desire to be holy too. Set me apart unto You, to live my life in a manner that is worthy of You and pleasing to You.
Search my heart I pray, and if there is any cherished sin lurking within, I ask that You would root it out, for I know that only the one that has clean hand and a pure heart may stand in Your presence.
Purify my heart, cleanse my inner thoughts and examine every motive behind my acts and attitudes, for I desire to live in holiness of heart - and if there is anything that is displeasing to You I ask that in Your grace, You would root it out, so that I may live in holiness all the days of my life, clothed in Christ’s righteousness separated unto You and walking in godly love – this I ask in Jesus name,
Amen
Christian Advance Prayer
St. Augustine
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
Christian Advance Prayer
Prayer
"Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God."
Matt Batterson
Christian Advance Prayer
Thomas Cranmer
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word, and deed against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous upon us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us most merciful Father; for Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever serve and please Thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Christian Advance Prayer
George Muller
"Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed, before He can answer the prayer for more."
Christian Advance Prayer
Billy Graham
" Have you ever said, 'Well, all we can do now is pray?' ... When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God."
Christian Advance Prayer
Prayer to be others focused
Gracious Holy Spirit, so much of my life seems to revolve around my interests and my welfare. I would like to live just one day in which everything I did benefited someone besides myself. Perhaps prayer for others is a starting point. Help me to do so without any need for praise or reward. In Jesus name. - Amen.
Richard Foster
Christian Advance Prayer
Howard Thurman
Open unto me - light for my darkness.
Open unto me - courage for my fear.
Open unto me - hope for my despair.
Open unto me - peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me - joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me - strength for my weakness.
Open unto me - wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me - forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me - tenderness for my toughness.
Open unto me - love for my hates.
Open unto me - Thy Self for my self.
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
Amen.
Christian Advance Prayer
St. Ignatius Prayer Of Surrender
Take, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will.
You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to Your Divine will.
You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to Your Divine will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.
Amen.
Christian Advance Prayer
Karl Barth
To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.
Christian Advance Prayer
John Wesley's Prayer of Surrender
O merciful God,
whatever You may deny me,
do not deny me this love.
Save me from the idolatry of loving the world,
or any of the things of the world.
Let me never love any creature
but for Your sake and in subordination to Your love.
Take full possession of my heart;
raise there Your throne
and command there as You do in heaven.
Being created by You, let me live to You;
being created for You,
let me ever act for Your glory;
being redeemed by You,
let me render to You what is Yours
and let my spirit ever cleave to You alone.